Department of Geography and Planning

Education

Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2015

Research

My current research focuses on the spatiotemporal patterns of environmental health illnesses and how these patterns relate to environmental, socioeconomic, and climatic determinants. This research is guided by the social-ecological approach of vulnerability theory, which investigates the complex interplay between the environmental and social/economic aspects of a community. Using this theory, my research provides insights into the etiology of environmental-health diseases, highlighting both at risk populations and the environmental conditions that lead to adverse health outcomes. Presently, I have three main topical research interests: 1.) Environmental Exposure and Wearable Sensor Technology 2.) Mental Distress among Adolescents 3.) Indicators of Vulnerability and Resilience in the southeastern US

Teaching

The goal of my teaching is to create an environment that facilitates student interaction and encourages critical evaluation of the world.
Recent Courses:
GHY3812: Geographic Information Systems
GHY5800: Advanced Quantitative Methods for Graduate Students
GHY4005: Geography of Health and Disease
GHY5150: Seminar in GIScience
GHY5025: Climate and Society

Recent Master Thesis Supervised

Lauren Andersen -- An Assessment of Wildfire Vulnerability in Western North Carolina (2018)
Laura Thompson -- Adolescents in Crisis: A Spatial Exploration of Mental Distress Using Data from Crisis Text Line (2018)
Garry Raynor-- Visualizations of Methademyeine across North Carolina (2017)
Anna Ross -- Recreational Heat-Related Illness: Heat Exposure Outside the Work Week (2016)

Student Honors and Awards

Lauren Andersen (2018) - Cratis Williams Society of Graduate Students
Lauren Andersen (2018) - Graduate Student Poster Award at Celebration of Student Research and Creative Endeavors
Laura Thompson (2018) - Zigli Research Award, Cratis Williams Graduate School
Lauren Andersen (2018) - AAG-GTU Travel Award, $200.
Lauren Andersen (2017) - Student and Faculty Excellence Fund,
Laura Thompson (2017) - “Student and Faculty Excellence Fund,
Lauren Andersen (2017) - G. Herbert Stout Student Award in GIS
Garry Raynor (2017) - G. Herbert Stout Student Award in GIS
Laura Thompson (2016) - SEDAAG Honors Competition Finalist

Personal Website: https://sites.google.com/appstate.edu/mmsugg/home